Golf Events from the Weekend 29th July 2012

Well again it was a great weekend of Golf on the Major Professional Golf Tours from around the world. First I will start with the European Tour and Race to Dubai. This week it headed to Austria and it was the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity and it was played at the Diamond CC, Atzenbrugg, Austria. And it was the Golfer by the name of Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) who scored rounds of 71-1, 66-6, 67-5 and a final round of 65-7 for a 72 hole total of 269-19. He won by 3 strokes and won € 166,660.00 for the win and moved to 19th position on the current Race to Dubai Money list with € 654,984 earned from the 18 events he has played in to date this year so far. Justin Rose (England) still leads that list with €1,836,334 earned from the 8 events he has played to date this year so far.

Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) in action during the final round

It was his second European Tour International Schedule victory in his 79th European Tour event. It was his second European Tour victory of the 2012 season, following his Ballantine's Championship victory in late April. He becomes the third multiple winner of the 2012 season. He would follow: Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open) and Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open). He becomes the second Austrian to win the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity, following Markus Brier (2002, 2004 and 2006). (It was part of the European Challenge Tour in 2002 and 2004). He becomes the second player following Markus Brier (Austria) to win a European Tour event on home soil. He becomes the first Austrian to win twice in the same European Tour season.

This victory comes in his eighth appearance in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity. This victory beats his previous best performance of tied fourth in the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity as an amateur in 2004. (His best previous best finish as a professional was tied fifth in 2011). It was the fifth Austrian victory in European Tour history. He joins Markus Brier (Austria) (two wins) as the second Austrian to record multiple European Tour victories. It was the second Austrian victory of the 2012 season, following his Bernd Wiesberger's (Austria) win at the Ballantine's Championship. He gains his fourth win as a professional. His win becomes the 17th European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player on the 2012 European Tour from 30 events so far. He would follow: Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (RSA) (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open), Robert Rock (England) (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spain) (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (England) (WGC - Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (France) (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol), Michael Hoey (NIR) (Trophée Hassan II), Thørbjorn Olesen (Denmark) (Sicilian Open), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) (Ballantine's Championship), Ricardo Santos (Portugal) (Madeira Islands Open - Portugal), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) (Volvo World Match Play Championship) and Jamie Donaldson (Wales) (Irish Open) and Marcel Siem (Germany) (Alstom Open de France). Finally becomes the 301st European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) played a brilliant final round of 65-7 which was the lowest final round of the day. He played a steady front nine with scoring 35-1 with birdies on the Par 4, 3rd hole and Par 3, 9th hole, with his lone bogey coming at the Par 3, 5th hole. He played an amazingly brilliant back nine of 30-6 which included birdies at the Par 5, 10th hole, Par 4, 12th hole, Par 5, 13th hole, Par 3, 15th hole, Par 4, 16th hole and Par 4, 18th hole. He has now made 10 cuts out of the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. As well as his two wins this year he has recorded another top 10 finish in the Joburg Open where he finished tied for 9th position in early January. In his third year of the playing on The European Tour and Race to Dubai he is now starting to show the real talent he possesses. And with these two victories he would have gained lots of confidence. And if he can continue on this form for the rest of the season he may well be a factor in the final event of the season that is the Dubai World Championship, Dubai that will be played in Dubai in the last week of November with only the top 60 players on the Final 2012 Race to Dubai Money list qualifying for it.

Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) poses with the Lyoness Open powered by Greenfinity Trophy he won

He also could now be a factor to become a Captains Pick in the 2012 Ryder Cup which is being played at the Medinah Country Club, Illinois, USA in the last week of September. Whether Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) who is the 2012 European Team Ryder Cup Captain chooses him is another question? But he is currently in 33rd position on the European Ryder Cup Points List with 660265.97 points earned to date so far and on the European Ryder Cup World Points list he has 72.16 points earned which places him in 30th position. He will need to be inside the top 5 players on either of those lists I mentioned to automatically qualify after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles which is played in the last week in August. Because that is the final tournament to qualify before the team is picked. But he will get his chance to play in his first WGC – Bridgestone Invitational next week when he heads over to America. And perhaps the USPGA Championship which is the final Major of the year the following week? I wish him all the best on the European Tour for the rest of the 2012 season.

Coming in tied for second position at 272-16 after 72 holes were Shane Lowry (Ireland) who scored a brilliant 66-6 in the final round and the ever green, Thomas Levet (France). Coming in solo fourth position at 273-15 after 72 holes was Rikard Karlberg (Sweden) and it was his best result on the European Tour to date this year so far. In solo 5th position at 274-14 after 72 holes was Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), he will be disappointed with this result because he let his 54 hole lead slip with a final round of 74+2. Coming in tied for 6th position at 275-13 after 72 holes was Chris Doak (Scotland) who also has his best result on the European Tour to date so far this year. Also tied for 6th position was Benjamin Hebert (France) and it too was his best finish on the European Tour to date so far this season. Coming in tied for 8th position at 276-12 after 72 holes was Scott Jamieson (Scotland) who continued on his fine form this season. Richard Bland (England) was also tied for 8th position. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position at 277-11 after 72 holes was Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) who continued on his consistent season that has seen him win € 455,702 to date so far and he has made 17 out of 19 cuts. Also tied for 10th position was Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) and it was his equal best finish on the European Tour so far this year.

Next week the European Tour and Race to Dubai heads to the USA for the third World Golf Championship of the year and it is co - sanctioned with the USPGA Tour and FedEx Cup and it is the World Golf Championship – Bridgestone Invitational and it is played on the Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio, USA. It has a large prize purse of $US 8,500,000 for the taking. Adam Scott (Australia) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title after his meltdown at the recently played Open Championship. It starts on Thursday 2nd August. I will report back who won the trophy next week.

Now to the second event I am reporting on this week and it was on the USPGA Tour and part of the FedEx Cup and was the RBC Canadian Open and it was played on the Hamilton G&CC, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. And it was Scott Piercy (USA) who after breaking the course record with a round of 62-8 in the first round and then he went on to score rounds of 67-3, 67-3 and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 263-17 and he won by 1 stroke for his second win on the USPGA Tour having won the Reno – Tahoe Open in 2011 as his maiden USPGA Tour win. He won $US 936,000.00 for the win and that moved him to 18th position on the USPGA Tour Money list with $US 2,221,325 earned from the 21 events he has played in to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with $US 4,685,123 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. Scott Piercy (USA) also earned 500 FedEx Cup points and moves to 13th position on the current FedEx Cup Points list with 1,234 points earned from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 898 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 2,132 points from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far.

Scott Piercy (USA) in action during the final round

Scott Piercy (USA) got off to a brilliant start in his final round with recording four consecutive birdies from holes 2-5 and that included birding the Par 4, 2nd hole, Par 4, 3rd hole, Par 5, 4th hole and Par 4, 5th hole. At that point he was -18 for the tournament and had a 1 stroke lead over Will McGirt (USA) and 2 stroke lead over Robert Garrigus (USA). He made his lone bogey on the front nine at the Par 3, 8th hole. So he went out in 32-2 and was -17 for the tournament and now 1 stroke behind, Will McGirt (USA) who too had returned a front nine of 32-2. Robert Garrigus (USA) who was the 54 hole leader, had scored an even par front nine of 35 and he did it by recording 9 consecutive pars. Scott Piercy (USA) pared holes 10-13 and was still -17 with 5 holes to play 1 stroke behind Will McGirt (USA). Robert Garrigus (USA) as well pared holes 10-13 and he was at -16 with 5 holes to play 2 strokes behind Will McGirt (USA). Will McGirt (USA) pared holes 10 -13 as well and was still at -18 and had a 1 stroke lead over Scott Piercy (USA). Scott Piercy (USA) made an untimely bogey at the Par 4, 14th hole. But he came right back with a birdie on the Par 4, 15th hole where he holed his chip shot from off the fringe. He made 3 solid pars on the last 3 holes and returned a back nine of 35 even par and a final round of 67-3 and posted 263-17 for the 72 holes and was the leader in the Club House.

Robert Garrigus (USA) finally holed a putt on the Par 4, 14th hole for his lone birdie of his final round and at the time it got him to -17 and he was only 1 stroke behind Will McGirt (USA) who was still -18. Robert Garrigus (USA) 3 putted the Par 3, 16th hole for a bogey to fall back to -16, and then he was unable to birdie the short Par 5, 17th hole because of his errant tee shot. He struck a good second shot into the Par 4, 18th hole and had a 15 foot birdie putt to get to -17 and force a playoff with Scott Piercy (USA) but he left it inches short and had to settle for par. He scored a final round of 70 even par in which he had 33 putts! And he finished on 264-16 for the tournament to come up one shot shy. Will McGirt (USA) made a bogey at the Par 4, 15th hole to fall back to -17 with 3 holes to play and was now tied with Scott Piercy (USA) who was already in the Club house and also his playing partner Robert Garrigus (USA). He pared the short par 3, 16th hole and just came up short for birdie on the Par 5, 17th hole. So he came to the 72nd hole at -17 and was still tied for the lead with Scott Piercy (USA) and his playing partner Robert Garrigus (USA). Will McGirt (USA) he a poor second shot to the Par 4, 18th hole and left his ball in the right green side bunker leaving himself a difficult up and down for par to force a playoff. He hit an average bunker shot out to 15 feet short of the cup. He now had a par putt to force a playoff with Scott Piercy (USA). He struck what he said afterwards was his worse putt of the week and it came up 3feet short. And he two had to settle for a share of second position at 264-16 just one shot back.

So Scott Piercy (USA) could now enjoy his second win on the USPGA Tour. And he would now have to change his plans and not go and defend his Reno – Tahoe Open Title but instead play in the World Golf Championship - Bridgestone Invitational for the very first time in his career. He also gets a start in the PGA Championship in two weeks time and the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions as well as the 2013 Masters Tournament and he is exempt on the USPGA Tour till the end of the 2014 season. He has made $US 1, 248, 000.00 in his last 2 starts on the USPGA Tour with his win here and solo third placing at the John Deere Classic. He credits a lot of his success over the last two USPGA Tour starts to taking the advice of CBS Sports golf analyst, Peter Kostis (USA) who told him to work and find the right wedge so he could get his Wedge shots closer to the hole more often. He took Peter’s advice and now is striking his wedge shots much better and has smaller putts for birdies than he had before.

Scott Piercy (USA) poses with the RBC Canadian Open Trophy he won

Scott Piercy (USA) first played on the USPGA Tour in 2009 after qualifying for it by finishing in 9th position on the then Nationwide Tour  Final Money list in 2008 with earning $US 320,187 from the 19 events he entered. He had a good rookie season in 2009 on the USPGA Tour earning $US 1,032,716 from the 28 events he played and finished in 90th position on the final Money list. In 2010 on the USPGA Tour he struggled slight only earning $US 676,432 from the 28 events he played and finished in 136th position meaning he was only partially exempt for the 2011 season. And I have already told you his results so far this season which will be the best of his career to date when it is finished. And to think that his last 12 consecutive rounds on the USPGA Tour have been is the 60’s proves he is in some of the best form of his life. I wish Scott Piercy (USA) all the best in the rest of the events on the USPGA Tour in 2012.

Coming tied for 2nd position at 264-16 after 72 holes was Robert Garrigus (USA), he will be disappointed with his final round of 70 even par. And it was the third time in the 2012 USPGA Tour season that he has finished in 2nd position. But he is having a real good season with $US 2,079,256 earned from the 19 events he has played to date so far this year. He must be due for a second victory on the USPGA Tour very soon? Perhaps it will happen before the 2012 season is finished? Also tied for second position was William McGirt (USA), it was his best ever finish on the USPGA Tour to date so far. He has now earned $US 986,045 on the USPGA Tour in the 2012 season so far and has guaranteed his full playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. Coming in tied for 4th position on 266-14 after 72 holes was Josh Teater (USA), and it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour to date this year. He has now earned $US 570,715 from the 23 events he has played in to date this year so far and is well on his way to keeping his card for next season. Also tied for 4th position was USPGA Tour Rookie, Bud Cauley (USA), he is only 22 years old and has now won $US 1,170,946 from the 21 events he has played to date this year so far and easily keeps his card for the 2013 season. The last player to tie for 4th position was Chris Kirk (USA), and it was his best finish to date on the USPGA Tour this season. He has now also secured his card for the 2013 USPGA Tour season but he was already exempt until the end of the 2013 USPGA Tour season because he won the 2011 Viking Classic.

Coming in tied for 7th position at 268-12 after 72 holes was Vijay Singh (Fiji), it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour in 2012 so far and he has now earned $US 989,683 from the 20 events he has played to date this year. He is now 49 years old, and when he turns 50 on the 22nd February next year he will be a real force to be reckoned with on the Champions Tour.  Also tied for 7th position was Bo Van Pelt (USA), it just continues on his fine season to date with already recording 7 top 10 finishes and earning $US 2,290,188 from the 18 events he has played to date this year so far. The last player to tie for 7th position was last week’s winner at the True South Classic, Scott Stallings (USA), and it was his second consecutive top 10 finish of the 2012 USPGA Tour Season. Rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position on 270-10 after 72 holes was Gary Christian (England), and it was his first top 10 on the USPGA Tour in his rookie season, he has now earned $US 526,122 from the 21 events he has played to date this year and he is well on his way to securing his card for 2013 season. Also tied for 10th position was Troy Matteson (USA) who had another top 10 finish and carried on the good form from the John Deere Classic two weeks ago where he lost to Zach Johnson (USA) in a playoff. He has now won $862,166 from the 24 events he has played to date so far this year and will easily keep his playing status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. The next player to tie for 10th position was the 2009 RBC Canadian Open Champion, Nathan Green (Australia), since that win which was his maiden win on the USPGA Tour he has really struggled on the USPGA Tour in past few years and he has a real battle ahead to keep his card for the 2013 season with only earning $US 317,952 from the 16 events he has played to date this year so far. The next player to tie for 10th position was Kevin Kisner (USA); it was his best finish on the USPGA Tour so far this year and also the best finish in his short USPGA Tour Career. The last player to tie for 10th position was Two Time U.S. Open Champion, Retief Goosen (RSA), he has really struggled on the USPGA Tour the last few seasons and his last win came at the 2009 Transitions Championship.

Ernie Els (RSA) had a disappointing week after winning the 141st Open Championship the week previous. He was only playing here because he is sponsored by RBC and they sponsor the Canadian Open and he felt he a commitment to play. He scored rounds of 72+2 and 70 even par for a 36 hole total of 142+2 and he missed the 36 hole halfway cut by 3 strokes. But he will be back winning again soon, he is a too good a player not to.

Danny Lee (NZL) was the only New Zealand Golfer in the field. He scored consecutive rounds of 70 even par for a 36 hole total of 140 even par and missed the 36 hole cut by 1 stroke. He has now missed his last 2 cuts and only made 10 cuts to date so far this year in the 20 events he has played so far. With not making a cheque this week he slips to 166th position on the current USPGA Tour Money list with $US 257,252 earned from the 20 events he has played in to date this year so far. Tiger Woods (USA) still leads that list with $US 4,685,123 earned from the 13 events he has played to date this season so far. Danny Lee (NZL) has also earned 219 points in the FedEx Cup from the 20 events he has played to date this year so far and that places him in 156th position on the current list. He is 1,913 points behind the current leader who is Tiger Woods (USA) who has earned 2,132 points from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far. Danny Lee (NZL) now only has two regular FedEx Cup events that he is likely to get starts in before the FedEx Cup Playoffs begin at the Barclays on 23rd August. I feel two top 10 finishes at the minimum are essential to secure his place inside top 125 players on the final regular season FedEx Cup points list. Personally I don’t think he will make it but I hope he proves me wrong. And if he does miss the FedEx Cup playoffs like I predict he will then he will have only 6 events on the USPGA Tour in 2012 left to make about $US 670, 000 that will be needed to keep his full playing Status for the 2013 USPGA Tour season. A more achievable goal would be to earn $US 415, 000 and that would give him partially exempt status for the 2013 season. I wish him all the best for the remaining events on the USPGA Tour in 2012.  

Next week there are two tournaments on the USPGA Tour and both are part of the FedEx Cup regular season. The first tournament is the third World Golf Championship of the year and is the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. It is co – sanctioned with the European Tour and many of the other Major Golf Tours from around the world. It has a huge prize purse of $US 8,500,000 for the taking. Adam Scott (Australia) is the defending Champion and will be keen to defend his title after his meltdown at the recently played Open Championship. It starts on Thursday 2nd August. I will report back who won the trophy next week. The second event is for the players that haven’t qualified for the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and is Reno – Tahoe Open and it is being played on the Montreux G&CC, Reno, Nevada. It has a smaller prize purse of $US 3,000,000 up for grabs and will give the lesser players on the USPGA Tour a chance to shine. Scott Piercy (USA) is the defending Champion but because he won the RBC Canadian Open as I mentioned above he will be playing the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational so there will be a new Champion. It starts on Thursday 2nd August and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

The final event I am reporting on this week was on the Champions Tour and was part of the Charles Schwab Cup and was The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex and was played on the Turnberry (Ailsa Course), Turnberry, Scotland. And it was the American Professional by the name of Fred Couples (USA) who scored rounds of 72+2, 68-2, 64-6 and a final round of 67-3 for a 72 hole total of 271-9 and he won by 2 strokes for his maiden Senior Open Championship win. He won € 256,058.68 for the win but because he isn’t a member of the European Seniors Tour he doesn’t have a ranking on their Order of Merit. He also won $US 315,600.00 on the Champions Tour Money list and he moved to 4th position on the Champions Tour Money list with $US 1,071,067 earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year so far. He is also in 4th position on the Charles Schwab Cup Points list with 1,530 points earned from the 9 events he has played to date this year so far. He is 414 points behind the current leader who is Tom Lehman (USA) who has earned 1,944 points from the 13 events he has played to date this year so far.

Fred Couples (USA) celebrates after winning the Senior Open Championship

It was his first European Senior Tour victory in his third European Senior Tour appearance. This victory beats his previous best finish on the European Senior Tour of second in the 2010 US Senior PGA Championship. Fred Couples (USA) wins The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex on his debut in the event. He follows Neil Coles (England) (1987), Bobby Verwey (RSA) (1991), Tom Wargo (USA) (1994), Brian Barnes (Scotland) (1995), Chirsty O’Connor Jnr (Ireland) (1999), as players to win The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex on their first appearance. He claims his second Senior Major Championship, following the 2011 Senior Players Championship. He follows Tom Wargo (USA) (1994), Tom Watson (USA) (2003, 2005 and 2007), Pete Oakley (USA) (2004), Loren Roberts (USA) (2006 and 2009), Bruce Vaughan (USA) (2008) and Russ Cochran (USA) (2011), as American winners of The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex. He gains a place in The 142nd Open Championship in 2013. He seals his eighth victory since turning 50 in October 2009. He claims his second victory of 2012, following the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic. And finally he earns his 55th victory as a professional.

Fred Couples (USA) played a steady final round of 67-3 which included a front nine of 35 even par with birdies on the Par 4, 2nd hole and Par 5, 7th hole but he had poor bogeys on the Par 4, 3rd hole and Par 4, 8th hole. He scored a brilliant 32-3 on the back nine which included birdies on the Par 3, 11th hole, Par 4, 12th hole, Par 5, 17th hole and Par 4, 18th hole and his lone bogey came at the Par 4, 13th hole. He came to the 72nd hole with a 1 stroke lead over fellow country man, Gary Hallberg (USA) and made a fine birdie on the difficult Par 4 to win by 2strokes. Fred Couples (USA) will be very pleased to with winning the Senior Open Championship as he went so close to winning the Open Championship on many occasions but couldn’t manage to get it done. He has now won 8 times on the Champions Tour and here they are from the first one to the most recent one: 2010 The ACE Group Classic, Toshiba Classic, The Cap Cana Championship, Administaff Small Business Classic, 2011 Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship, AT&T Championship, 2012 Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex. I wish Fred Couples (USA) all the best in the rest of the events on the Champions Tour and USPGA Tour in 2012.

Fred Couples (USA) poses with the Senior Open Championship Trophy he won

Coming solo second position on 273-7 after 72 holes was Gary Hallberg (USA), and this finish was his best on the Champions Tour so far this season. Coming it tied for 3rd position at 276-4 after 72 holes were Carl Mason (England), Dick Mast (USA) and Barry Lane (England). Coming in tied for 6th position at 278-2 after 72 holes were Mark Wiebe (USA), John Cook (USA), Peter Fowler (Australia) who was the best placed Australian in the field and the Legendary, Bernhard Langer (Germany). And rounding out the top 10 in tied for 10th position were 1989 Open Champion, Mark Calcavecchia (USA), 1996 Open Champion, Tom Lehman (USA), five time Open Champion, Tom Watson (USA), Jay Don Blake (USA) and the 1991 Masters Tournament Winner, Ian Woosnam (Wales).  

Next week the Champions Tour and Charles Schwab Cup head back to America for the 3M Championship and it is being played at the TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota. It has a large prize purse of $US 1,750,000 for the taking. Jay Haas (USA) is the defending Champion and will be keen for back to back titles. It starts on Thursday 2nd August and I will report back who won the trophy next week.

So to the Top 5 on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list this week and coming in at Number One Position for the 4th spell of his career and the 55th week of his career is Luke Donald (England) with 9.84 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Two is Tiger Woods (USA) with 8.37 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Three is Rory McILroy (NIR) with 8.27 Official Golf World Ranking Points; coming in at Number Four is Lee Westwood (England) with 7.77 Official Golf World Ranking Points and rounding out the top 5 on the Official Golf World Ranking Points list is the 112th US Open Champion, Webb Simpson (USA) with 6.39 Official Golf World Ranking Points. Danny Lee (NZL) is still the highest ranked New Zealand Golfer in the World. This week he slips 8 places to be at 201st position on the Official World Golf Rankings Points list with 0.92 Official World Golf Rankings Points on the list.

Remember the most important thing to do when hitting the golf ball is to make Solid Contact!!

Source: pgatour.com, europeantour.com